Celebration of Chrysanthemum Day : Field Day -cum-Training Programme on Chrysanthemum at ICAR-DFR, Pune.

ICAR-Directorate of Floricultural Research (DFR) organized “Chrysanthemum Day” at Research farm on 20^thDecember, 2016. The purpose of the chrysanthemum day was to showcase the varieties and production technologies developed by the ICAR-DFR and State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) as well as other ICAR institutions under AICRP (Floriculture) for the benefit of farmers and other stakeholders. Chrysanthemum growers from Village-Kusur and Pimpalwandi, Tal-Junnar, Dist Pune were invited for the field day-cum-training programme on chrysanthemum. Chrysanthemum varieties were planted under drip irrigation and mulching system was the main attraction to farmers. 150 varieties were displayed during the field day. The programme began with the welcome address followed by the inaugural lecture by Dr K V Prasad, Director, ICAR-DFR, Pune. He briefly presented the variability available in chrysanthemum in terms of colour and forms. Also he overviewed about the number of varieties and technologies developed by ICAR institutes.

Main objectives of the field day were to identify the varieties suitable for loose flower production as per farmer’s requirement. In market chrysanthemum is sold at premium price during the occasions like ganapati festival, durgapuja, diwali and marriages. The white and yellow colours are the most preferred in the market. Therefore to bring the novel colours in the market the farmers has to adopt those coloured varieties and start supply to various markets. This was one of the objectives to make farmers aware of variability and novel colours available in chrysanthemum.

Dr Tarak Nath Saha and Dr Ganesh B Kadam, Scientist ICAR-DFR Pune organized the field visit of farmers to germplasm block and explained about the potential germplasm for loose flower purpose. Dr Prabha K and Dr Girish K S, Scientist ICAR-DFR explained about the plant protection measures to be taken for chrysanthemum. Mr Rahul Yadav, Scientist ICAR-DFR explained about the packaging of chrysanthemum and other loose flowers.

The farmers have evinced keen interest in some of the varieties which they would like to grow commercially in their farms. Mr. Samir Hundare one of the farmer from Kusur village thanked ICAR-DFR for organizing such informative programme. The programme was also attended by the AICRP Team member Dr B R Singh, Dr Kakade, Dr Jadhav from NARP, Ganeshkhind, Pune.